Chicago Area Students Receive GCCL Scholarship

Three area high school students have been awarded Trinity’s Greater Chicago Christian Leadership Scholarship: Rochelle Burks of Downers Grove; Andrea Walters of Bolingbrook; and Erica-Symone Windham of Robbins.

The four-year renewable grant covers tuition costs and is awarded to students from the Chicago area who are from under-represented populations at Trinity and have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and Christian commitment.

Rochelle Burks—Downers Grove South High School, Downers Grove, Illinois

Burks plans to major in social work at Trinity and is highly involved at school, at church, and in her community. She is a member of many school organizations, including the marching band, Peer Leaders, National Honor Society, and the Student-Principal Advisory Board. She has served as a junior counselor at Camp Grow Ministries in Wisconsin, where she has participated since 5th grade. She has also traveled to Tennessee for mission trips and participates in her church’s music ministry.

Andrea Walters—Bolingbrook High School, Bolingbrook, Illinois

Walters is a member of the National Honor Society, has been captain of the soccer team for the past three years, and serves as a peer math tutor. She has been a volunteer with The Bridge, a ministry to former inmates, and at the local hospital. She has also traveled on a short-term mission trip to Iowa and is active in her church.

Walters plans to study physical therapy at Trinity.

Erica-Symone Windham—Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, Blue Island, Illinois

An intended nursing major, Windham has already gained knowledge in the healthcare field through an internship with Advocate Christ Medical Center and through the medical scholar program at Christ Universal Temple. At school she has been a member of various clubs and organizations, including student council, junior and varsity cheerleading, and F.A.I.T.H. Bible study group, where she was instrumental in implementing a community outreach project for children at Hope Children’s Hospital.

The three students were surprised at school with the news of their awards. Walters said she was called out of class to come to the counselor’s office for a second interview with Trinity staff. “When my mom walked into the room with congratulation balloons, I broke down in tears,” said Walters, who said she has already given a great deal of thought to playing soccer and working hard in her biology classes.

Last year’s recipients were Sam Lankah ’13 of Warrenville, Illinois, and Brenda Romo ’13 of Chicago.